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USW, Vale have until Sunday at 4 p.m. to inform Labour minister about progress

Ontario Labour Minister Peter Fonseca has given United Steelworkers and Vale until Sunday at 4 p.m. to iron out their differences over how the issue of nine fired strikers is to be handled.

The two sides will meet Saturday and Sunday in Toronto with mediator Kevin Burkett, but this time there will be a new person at the table with them - Reg Pearson, head of mediation services for the Ontario Ministry of Labour.

Wayne Fraser, USW lead negotiator, said Fonseca has given the parties until 4 p.m. to "hammer out" their differences before they report back to him.

Both Vale and USW have said they reached a deal June 22 on all issues except the return to work of nine strikers fired during the almost year-long dispute for alleged bad behaviour on picket lines.

Vale claims it was willing to submit the matter of the fired strikers to the Ontario Labour Relations Board to be dealt with, but Fraser said that is not the entire story. Fraser, director of USW District 6, said Vale wanted to choose the OLRB panel that would be hearing the matter.

"That is like picking your own judge at your trial," said a irate Fraser on Friday afternoon.

He will be calling all members of the bargaining committee for USW Local 6500 in Sudbury and Local 6200 in Port Colborne to Toronto for the weekend talks.

When asked if he thought this latest action would resolve the strike that began July 13, Fraser said: "As long as we're at the bargaining table," there is hope of settling a deal. "But it takes two parties."